tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2641831546900038642024-03-12T18:58:01.131-07:00Tawni's MissionTawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-82266284941075148642012-03-21T20:48:00.000-07:002012-03-21T20:48:43.212-07:00P-day in MidwoodP-days in Midwood were different than in Freeport. We still did our laundry, email, grocery shopping, etc. but instead of walking across the street or driving in the car, we walked everywhere with these:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_ESCqejMfY/T2qd0oCGM2I/AAAAAAAAD1A/9ju7h1zjEnM/s1600/IMG_0016+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_ESCqejMfY/T2qd0oCGM2I/AAAAAAAAD1A/9ju7h1zjEnM/s320/IMG_0016+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We called them ghetto carts. We would use them to take our laundry to the laundromat, then while our laundry was going we would do our email (the laundromat we went to had two computers where we did our email), and while it was in the dryer we would run to the grocery store to get our groceries and then come back and get our clothes. <i>Everybody </i>had these carts for grocery shopping and stuff because most people walked everywhere.<br />
<br />
Sometimes we would stop and get a treat and eat it in the park.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qVmo57HvtVU/T2qeiAg2ojI/AAAAAAAAD1I/JI0hYn7dP7c/s1600/IMG_0017+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qVmo57HvtVU/T2qeiAg2ojI/AAAAAAAAD1I/JI0hYn7dP7c/s320/IMG_0017+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Or walk around and take pictures of different places. We would walk through here every day to get to the subway. The stairs to the train are on the other side of the fence on the right.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q6O57PJUcfE/T2qewJmQOuI/AAAAAAAAD1Q/BUoCyqyYNEM/s1600/IMG_0018+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q6O57PJUcfE/T2qewJmQOuI/AAAAAAAAD1Q/BUoCyqyYNEM/s320/IMG_0018+small.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was the train stop once you got down the stairs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvsihBLaOGA/T2qg-gHi91I/AAAAAAAAD2g/Np2gGqvdZDw/s1600/IMG_0055+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gvsihBLaOGA/T2qg-gHi91I/AAAAAAAAD2g/Np2gGqvdZDw/s320/IMG_0055+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
The last couple of months that I was in Midwood we started going to an Internet cafe in a Burger King a few train stops away. We would go first thing in the morning because it was cheaper the earlier you went.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ7q_8jjF1U/T2qfe0K-3mI/AAAAAAAAD1Y/45xNlt6aocc/s1600/IMG_0039+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iJ7q_8jjF1U/T2qfe0K-3mI/AAAAAAAAD1Y/45xNlt6aocc/s320/IMG_0039+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5AsrU71iv4/T2qfirZFFEI/AAAAAAAAD1g/Qbu5kFTNkwE/s1600/IMG_0040+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5AsrU71iv4/T2qfirZFFEI/AAAAAAAAD1g/Qbu5kFTNkwE/s320/IMG_0040+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Afterwards we would sometimes go to Coney Island for a couple of hours since we were only a couple of train stops away. We were pretty much the only ones there, and usually most of the zone ended up there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j1ESB3fGxx0/T2qf69WWqRI/AAAAAAAAD1o/3Atr3SOdROw/s1600/IMG_0019+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j1ESB3fGxx0/T2qf69WWqRI/AAAAAAAAD1o/3Atr3SOdROw/s320/IMG_0019+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHvkVi_AAJE/T2qf9O-VX9I/AAAAAAAAD1w/Ly7t_IVjpK4/s1600/IMG_0020+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pHvkVi_AAJE/T2qf9O-VX9I/AAAAAAAAD1w/Ly7t_IVjpK4/s320/IMG_0020+small.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Don't worry, I did follow all the mission rules. I did not go swimming, just stood in the water for a picture.</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-etSbNFv914U/T2qgAcdq5zI/AAAAAAAAD14/bUeP2KG4-7s/s1600/IMG_0022+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-etSbNFv914U/T2qgAcdq5zI/AAAAAAAAD14/bUeP2KG4-7s/s320/IMG_0022+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2yovyUujIs/T2qgDqGQy5I/AAAAAAAAD2A/TpDaX1_5m3k/s1600/IMG_0041+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2yovyUujIs/T2qgDqGQy5I/AAAAAAAAD2A/TpDaX1_5m3k/s320/IMG_0041+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">It looks like the elders have their arms around us, but they don't!</span> </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yjysisu-B1A/T2qgI2gz8iI/AAAAAAAAD2I/yFz4LKXHfKA/s1600/IMG_0042+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yjysisu-B1A/T2qgI2gz8iI/AAAAAAAAD2I/yFz4LKXHfKA/s320/IMG_0042+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RQfjibHzkzA/T2qgMaroPHI/AAAAAAAAD2Q/UWE7FskNjgQ/s1600/IMG_0043+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RQfjibHzkzA/T2qgMaroPHI/AAAAAAAAD2Q/UWE7FskNjgQ/s320/IMG_0043+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-50WT7PvbL74/T2qgQH6aZjI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/Rq_S5kW0tWk/s1600/IMG_0056+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-50WT7PvbL74/T2qgQH6aZjI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/Rq_S5kW0tWk/s320/IMG_0056+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-9580525808289126862012-03-18T18:17:00.000-07:002012-03-18T18:17:59.755-07:00My ZoneWe had the <i>best</i> zone leaders in Midwood. Elder Nelson was one of the zone leaders the whole time I was there, and he had two different companions during that time, Elder ? and Elder Smith. Every transfer we had a zone activity and took a zone picture. My first transfer we rode the Staten Island Ferry and rode past the Statue of Liberty.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKkZzbL3uas/T11msREotXI/AAAAAAAADto/q5f8pOZnldk/s1600/IMG_0010+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKkZzbL3uas/T11msREotXI/AAAAAAAADto/q5f8pOZnldk/s320/IMG_0010+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FN4LZPmdVAA/T11mtIErpBI/AAAAAAAADtw/G3JzBjHAosk/s1600/IMG_0012+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FN4LZPmdVAA/T11mtIErpBI/AAAAAAAADtw/G3JzBjHAosk/s320/IMG_0012+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M_Y6A6hjTgE/T11mt6g15OI/AAAAAAAADt4/qtcKIbITUMo/s1600/IMG_0025+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M_Y6A6hjTgE/T11mt6g15OI/AAAAAAAADt4/qtcKIbITUMo/s320/IMG_0025+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>My second transfer there we had an activity at Prospect Park. We were divided into two teams, the Lamanites and the Nephites, and did an obstacle course/race thing and at the end we had a "battle" on the "Hill Cumorah". I was on the Lamanite team and we won (hmmm). Then afterwards we had a bbq and took our picture.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lfE_9foBRl8/T11no4nKgHI/AAAAAAAADuA/zuwt3Kc46vY/s1600/IMG_0027+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lfE_9foBRl8/T11no4nKgHI/AAAAAAAADuA/zuwt3Kc46vY/s320/IMG_0027+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8B-tBS5-ME/T11n7pVChhI/AAAAAAAADuI/L25IIEPTJZ0/s1600/IMG_0038+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8B-tBS5-ME/T11n7pVChhI/AAAAAAAADuI/L25IIEPTJZ0/s320/IMG_0038+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Lamanites</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The next transfer we had an international food lunch. At the time we had missionaries in our zone from France, Ghana, Korea, Bulgaria, and Peru, along with Hawaii (not international, but still has some fun food!) along with a missionary that served most of his mission in Russia and then came to our mission to maybe help start a Russian program. Everybody was supposed to bring/make something native to their country/state. I brought funeral potatoes (so did the other sister that was from Utah) and Sister Auna made a drink that they have in Hawaii. Sister Lerat, from France, made crepes and they were sooo good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0XsRLToJKFI/T11qPC_2FZI/AAAAAAAADuQ/6aKYBMFhGXk/s1600/IMG_0050+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0XsRLToJKFI/T11qPC_2FZI/AAAAAAAADuQ/6aKYBMFhGXk/s320/IMG_0050+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>The next transfer we went to the Brooklyn Museum (the same one I went to with Sister Allred, Elder Maner and Elder Matavao).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Aq7zTt0730/T2aHf70UqkI/AAAAAAAADzQ/VKe04zXe2ic/s1600/IMG_0004+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Aq7zTt0730/T2aHf70UqkI/AAAAAAAADzQ/VKe04zXe2ic/s320/IMG_0004+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
For a while we did service as a zone at a park called Prospect Park, mostly weeding and doing other garden work. This is everybody after one of those days:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uHgwRyOsbOk/T15EQzz90_I/AAAAAAAADuY/t7pdtDsH_mQ/s1600/IMG_0048+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uHgwRyOsbOk/T15EQzz90_I/AAAAAAAADuY/t7pdtDsH_mQ/s320/IMG_0048+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We also did a zone service project and renovated a grown-over twin towers memorial garden/park. We also did service in Prospect Park, doing weeding and other garden work. Somebody even wrote an article about it for the Church News <i>and</i> a picture of me and Sister Graham was in it! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LnjtvP3wHvM/T15Ew-G0jEI/AAAAAAAADug/E69A3y16Qxs/s1600/IMG_0036+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LnjtvP3wHvM/T15Ew-G0jEI/AAAAAAAADug/E69A3y16Qxs/s320/IMG_0036+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lHiPG4FOi_o/T15ExjXU_KI/AAAAAAAADuo/mvojINzsSrM/s1600/IMG_0042+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lHiPG4FOi_o/T15ExjXU_KI/AAAAAAAADuo/mvojINzsSrM/s320/IMG_0042+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KBsDFL8inak/T2aIBllLkII/AAAAAAAADzY/pr4JOqhZHag/s1600/Twin+Towers+Garden+Service.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KBsDFL8inak/T2aIBllLkII/AAAAAAAADzY/pr4JOqhZHag/s320/Twin+Towers+Garden+Service.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FL7QzKg85oo/T2aIq5hEOnI/AAAAAAAADzg/CHeWe0eCVzc/s1600/IMG_0031+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FL7QzKg85oo/T2aIq5hEOnI/AAAAAAAADzg/CHeWe0eCVzc/s320/IMG_0031+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The photographer that took the pictures for the Church News caught this lovely one of me as I was working. The elders kept making fun of me because I looked like I was going to kill someone with the weeds.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42jLzNyc9oA/T15GEREBhWI/AAAAAAAADuw/n4I4ZEH6WgY/s1600/128_11983500726_2229_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-42jLzNyc9oA/T15GEREBhWI/AAAAAAAADuw/n4I4ZEH6WgY/s320/128_11983500726_2229_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
At the end of my first transfer in Midwood, the zone leaders started having a breakfast with the sisters every Thursday morning. They wanted to do something with the sisters since they couldn't go on splits with us, and that's what they came up with. It was great! Every week a different companionship was in charge of the food, and we always ate it in the church (since all the sisters lived next door to it). This picture is from our first breakfast. The elders were in charge and they got breakfast sandwiches and orange juice.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MOmN0eu61N0/T11mJo_tvTI/AAAAAAAADtg/SWy53f8wP8U/s1600/IMG_0019+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MOmN0eu61N0/T11mJo_tvTI/AAAAAAAADtg/SWy53f8wP8U/s320/IMG_0019+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-23371238635568381502012-03-11T19:42:00.004-07:002012-03-21T20:22:10.793-07:00My District(s)Since I was in Midwood for four transfers our district changed a few times. It started out like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MAUbPUH2rIk/T11fjg0h3TI/AAAAAAAADs4/lIFmBynuR5w/s1600/IMG_0024+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MAUbPUH2rIk/T11fjg0h3TI/AAAAAAAADs4/lIFmBynuR5w/s320/IMG_0024+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sister Allred, me, Elder Maner (DL), Elder Matavao</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Elder Maner was a really good district leader (and is now married to Sister Allred!) and Elder Matavao was a lot of fun. During this transfer we had a district activity at the Brooklyn Museum. It was mostly mummy type stuff, but it was a lot of fun!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tu2TptfifZY/T11kI0pOV4I/AAAAAAAADtY/KtuGIgmdgjs/s1600/IMG_0016+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tu2TptfifZY/T11kI0pOV4I/AAAAAAAADtY/KtuGIgmdgjs/s320/IMG_0016+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The next transfer our district looked like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5Vb4zEGcjA/T11ggp6A7rI/AAAAAAAADtA/5sxEOzz1gX0/s1600/IMG_0041+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5Vb4zEGcjA/T11ggp6A7rI/AAAAAAAADtA/5sxEOzz1gX0/s320/IMG_0041+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">All the same except E. Maner's companion was his greenie Elder Meza, from Peru.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next transfer our district looked like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igQTVYWnyjs/T11hM15sM-I/AAAAAAAADtI/t2ZwvZfqvzc/s1600/IMG_0051+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-igQTVYWnyjs/T11hM15sM-I/AAAAAAAADtI/t2ZwvZfqvzc/s320/IMG_0051+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This time it was my companion that changed to my greenie Sister Auna.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">And the 4th transfer it looked like this (minus the guy in the middle):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Fgn7El70AI/T11iDYCIAFI/AAAAAAAADtQ/qNQLTgbWaJA/s1600/IMG_0026+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Fgn7El70AI/T11iDYCIAFI/AAAAAAAADtQ/qNQLTgbWaJA/s320/IMG_0026+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Me, Sister Auna, Elder Smith (one of the zone leaders), Elder Weber, Elder Meza</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Sometimes we ate lunch together as a district. Once or twice we went to a pizza place called Rocky's (after <i>the</i> Rocky).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pyXgaBxHPg/T2qaoxZh0-I/AAAAAAAAD0g/5KHKE3yBWA4/s1600/IMG_0002+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8pyXgaBxHPg/T2qaoxZh0-I/AAAAAAAAD0g/5KHKE3yBWA4/s320/IMG_0002+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VUeKfUbZqHU/T2qapu01rJI/AAAAAAAAD0o/WCW4agLbhUs/s1600/IMG_0001+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VUeKfUbZqHU/T2qapu01rJI/AAAAAAAAD0o/WCW4agLbhUs/s320/IMG_0001+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This one looks kind of weird; I was taking the picture of us in the mirror next to the table.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPKG-hoESqA/T2qa2M7GxiI/AAAAAAAAD0w/1pVdZoxWaQE/s1600/IMG_0057+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZPKG-hoESqA/T2qa2M7GxiI/AAAAAAAAD0w/1pVdZoxWaQE/s320/IMG_0057+small.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-26173543050800472042012-03-05T20:28:00.002-08:002012-03-21T20:27:15.468-07:00Midwood Companions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NAR_q9ods0/T2FQdr4ZzQI/AAAAAAAADu4/wBT5Q2fB3Eg/s1600/191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6NAR_q9ods0/T2FQdr4ZzQI/AAAAAAAADu4/wBT5Q2fB3Eg/s320/191.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My first companion was Sister Allred, from Bakersfield, CA. Like I said in an earlier post she spoke Spanish really well and was a great teacher. I learned so much from her! We were together from February 8, 2005 to May 1. She taught me about mini-rewards - rewarding ourselves in small ways for working hard. Usually we would go to McDonald's and get one of their $1 hot fudge sundaes. She also always sang a song that she made up to the tune of _______ I can't remember right now, but it went like this:<br />
<br />
Goin' tractin', goin' tractin',<br />
Gonna knock on lots of peoples doors.<br />
Gonna teach them 'bout the gospel,<br />
Gonna ask them if they love the Lord.<br />
Gonna teach them 'bout baptism,<br />
Then we'll duuuuuunk 'em.<br />
<br />
She also taught me a lot of interesting facts about the Jewish people (there were lots in NY) and introduced me to plantain chips.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pZGpUplrbw/T1WMsiMyPaI/AAAAAAAADso/f-KWlnwQyR0/s1600/IMG_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pZGpUplrbw/T1WMsiMyPaI/AAAAAAAADso/f-KWlnwQyR0/s320/IMG_0022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I was also companions with Sister Allred when I dyed my hair for the first time ever. One night we were waiting at a bus stop so that we could go home. It was cold and dark, and a kind of scary looking guy stopped in a van and offered us a ride. We said no thanks and raced down the street to the subway station. Later Sister Allred said that when she was with her last companion people always thought they were Jewish since they both had dark hair, but since I was blonde, people bothered us more. So, she said I should dye my hair brown. I decided to go along with it. I bought a box of hair dye and she performed the magic. After about 5 minutes of having the dye in my hair I started freaking out because it looked really dark, so I washed it out. It made my hair a little darker and evened out the color (as you can totally tell in the pictures), but it didn't turn out brown. So it kind of defeated the purpose, but it was still fun.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Before</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHvVEaAETT0/T1WMKFi1R1I/AAAAAAAADsQ/hPesZHNmstI/s1600/IMG_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sHvVEaAETT0/T1WMKFi1R1I/AAAAAAAADsQ/hPesZHNmstI/s320/IMG_0013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">During</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QpexigULnhM/T1WMNvkNZ7I/AAAAAAAADsY/o2vi5JVpzV8/s1600/IMG_0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QpexigULnhM/T1WMNvkNZ7I/AAAAAAAADsY/o2vi5JVpzV8/s320/IMG_0014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">After</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-7b1Rlgs_Q/T1WMSGu2neI/AAAAAAAADsg/LNgCl7BJ6-k/s1600/IMG_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A-7b1Rlgs_Q/T1WMSGu2neI/AAAAAAAADsg/LNgCl7BJ6-k/s320/IMG_0015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My second companion in Midwood was Sister Auna, from Kona, HI. She was my greenie, and the best one ever! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_SaTlrnXUI/T2FQrPzFGPI/AAAAAAAADvA/-E6_VCvg10k/s1600/192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i_SaTlrnXUI/T2FQrPzFGPI/AAAAAAAADvA/-E6_VCvg10k/s320/192.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r83xESuCJH4/T1WNO2swQ-I/AAAAAAAADsw/89YNMA1Voxc/s1600/IMG_0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r83xESuCJH4/T1WNO2swQ-I/AAAAAAAADsw/89YNMA1Voxc/s320/IMG_0053.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were companions from May 2, 2005 to July 25. I was really surprised and nervous to be called to train already, but she was so great! She really wanted to learn and be a good missionary, and she was a lot of fun. She loved snacking on cereal and gummy candy, finding the latest "ghetto jewelry" (jewelry at the 99 cent stores), and getting to know the Hispanic culture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once when we were tracting we made up a song called "The 12 Days of Our Mission", sung to the tune of "The 12 Days of Christmas". I know it doesn't really make sense because there are way more than 12 days in a mission, but sometimes tracting could really drag and this kept us occupied. It went like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the (1st, 2nd, etc.) day of my mission, New York gave to me:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> A golden baptism</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 2 dinner appointments</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 3 children crying (we heard a lot of crying kids in the apartment buildings)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 4 dogs barking (same)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 5 locks on one door</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 6 Jews a wiggin'</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 7 ghetto stores</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 8 Virgen Mary's (lots of Catholics)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 9 horns a honking</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 10 ghetto snacks</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 11 slammed doors</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> 12 cockroaches</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just to explain ghetto stores and ghetto snacks - in missionary lingo in our mission, we used the word "ghetto" a lot. I guess because we were in kind of a ghetto area. So ghetto stores were like little convenience stores, comparable to gas stations without the gas pumps. Ghetto snacks were usually purchased in those ghetto stores and were usually individually wrapped Little Debbie-like snacks that you could buy for a quarter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another thing we found at a 99 cent store were these rockin' flip flops, so we got matching pairs. it was kind of a tradition to get something as a companionship. We had a name for it, but I can't remember what it was.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Nzas9xX1R4/T2qb-zdG_DI/AAAAAAAAD04/vv4V11UGa2M/s1600/IMG_0044+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Nzas9xX1R4/T2qb-zdG_DI/AAAAAAAAD04/vv4V11UGa2M/s320/IMG_0044+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><br />
There are a lot of other things I could write about these two wonderful companions, but I can't remember anymore right now, so as I go through my journal I'll probably add more to this post.Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-51734028719161993232012-02-16T19:37:00.000-08:002012-02-16T19:37:14.576-08:00Midwood BaptismsWe had a baptism a couple of weeks after I was transferred to Midwood. Her name was Lesly Ariza and she was the most golden person I was able to teach my entire mission. She was from Peru and only in New York for her school break. While she was here she worked for a Jewish family, a very common job for Hispanic women in NY. Normally, those who worked for Jewish families worked Sunday-Friday with Saturdays off, but Lesly was lucky enough to work Saturdays and had Sundays off. I don't remember how it happened, but somehow, she ended up staying with a family in our ward every Saturday night, so that is how we were introduced to her. She had come to church with them a couple of times before we were able to talk to her and the first time we taught her she was committed to baptism. A week later she was baptized. She was and is still amazing and is still very active in Peru.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gAAY7WdBMKI/Tz3D0t4eDrI/AAAAAAAADmI/rUrUtkhxb7w/s1600/IMG_0005+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gAAY7WdBMKI/Tz3D0t4eDrI/AAAAAAAADmI/rUrUtkhxb7w/s320/IMG_0005+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Hermano Pelaez baptized her; he was the dad of the family she stayed with on the weekends.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2pv6MMzUkE/Tz3D1X5PfHI/AAAAAAAADmQ/roQhn746Dfs/s1600/IMG_0006+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u2pv6MMzUkE/Tz3D1X5PfHI/AAAAAAAADmQ/roQhn746Dfs/s320/IMG_0006+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
A few weeks later she gave us these cute stuffed bears.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mbtFT0uoayo/Tz3D2KhV8PI/AAAAAAAADmY/OKo8XtZLuEI/s1600/IMG_0026+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mbtFT0uoayo/Tz3D2KhV8PI/AAAAAAAADmY/OKo8XtZLuEI/s320/IMG_0026+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>A few weeks later, Arturo de Jesus was baptized. He had some drinking problems to overcome, but decided that he wanted to be baptized. He was pretty nervous all the way up until the baptism, but he did go through with it. I have lost touch with him, so I don't know if he has been able to stay active or not. (He's the one on the right.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gt7b66wobAk/Tz3GH9-rLII/AAAAAAAADmg/EQ6h5FD4laM/s1600/IMG_0028+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gt7b66wobAk/Tz3GH9-rLII/AAAAAAAADmg/EQ6h5FD4laM/s320/IMG_0028+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>A few days later he got us this cake:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aB8Ose1smP4/Tz3GWQ2YTOI/AAAAAAAADmo/d7i1p23OuwQ/s1600/IMG_0029+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aB8Ose1smP4/Tz3GWQ2YTOI/AAAAAAAADmo/d7i1p23OuwQ/s320/IMG_0029+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>A couple of weeks later Alexis Jimenez was baptized. He was directly from the Dominican Republic and was staying with his sister and her family, who were members in our ward. He had taken the discussions in the DR and already knew he wanted to be baptized. So we were the lucky ones who got to finish teaching him. He was <i>so</i> hard for me to understand. I always stared at him while he was talking, like, "I know you're saying something but I don't know what!" He thought it was pretty funny and couldn't understand why I didn't know what he was saying. Luckily, Sister Allred could understand him. (He's the one on the left.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQFWiUZlfLE/Tz3HIlcvbBI/AAAAAAAADmw/ohAuJQ22UB0/s1600/IMG_0034+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rQFWiUZlfLE/Tz3HIlcvbBI/AAAAAAAADmw/ohAuJQ22UB0/s320/IMG_0034+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
His sister is on the far right, along with her kids. Their mom is the one in front of me and was the only non-member.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVpjX5Mna3M/Tz3HJnAvGxI/AAAAAAAADm0/WnNEThcdsww/s1600/IMG_0035+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yVpjX5Mna3M/Tz3HJnAvGxI/AAAAAAAADm0/WnNEThcdsww/s320/IMG_0035+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>Not long after Alexis was baptized Sister Allred was transferred and my greenie, Sister Auna came. I was so so nervous and we seriously had nobody to teach at that point. I was worried about finding good investigators and having a baptism. We worked and worked and finally one day at the end of the transfer we went to a Father's Day party that the ward was having at the church. When we walked in, one of the members, Hna. Palomeque, said that she had an investigator family downstairs for us to talk to. We went down and met them and they were wonderful! It was a mom (Norma) and four of her six kids (Cristina, Jenny, Gabriela, and Zach). They came to church the next day and Norma asked for a Book of Mormon. The second time we taught them they were committed to be baptized. It was a <i>very</i> exciting time for Sister Auna and I. For her because it would be her first baptism, and for me because I felt like I was finally doing my job as a trainer. They were baptized the next transfer. (Zach was only 5 so he was not baptized.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D15H-6Tw9es/Tz3LPWYWQrI/AAAAAAAADnA/Ma49yytwcG8/s1600/IMG_0004+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D15H-6Tw9es/Tz3LPWYWQrI/AAAAAAAADnA/Ma49yytwcG8/s320/IMG_0004+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EaJNOJE7Hfs/Tz3LR7f7bwI/AAAAAAAADnI/901wJGBUvIM/s1600/IMG_0038+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EaJNOJE7Hfs/Tz3LR7f7bwI/AAAAAAAADnI/901wJGBUvIM/s320/IMG_0038+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br />
</div><div>We worked hard the rest of the transfer without seeing any more baptisms and then I was transferred to another area.</div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-41283493798689234222012-02-16T18:54:00.000-08:002012-02-16T18:54:17.102-08:00Midwood MembersThe ward mission leader was Paul Merchan. He was about our age and had served a mission in California (Long Beach?). He was the best mission leader I had my entire mission.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pldhLHr4MtI/Tzw9jfbM-SI/AAAAAAAADlg/g2oFNaYaqo4/s1600/IMG_0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pldhLHr4MtI/Tzw9jfbM-SI/AAAAAAAADlg/g2oFNaYaqo4/s320/IMG_0027.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The Santos family was another great family. Abby (second from right) was a returned missionary as well. I think she served in Boston.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IdVrM77LWNs/Tzw99Uq-GSI/AAAAAAAADlo/BvN4okA55B0/s1600/IMG_0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IdVrM77LWNs/Tzw99Uq-GSI/AAAAAAAADlo/BvN4okA55B0/s320/IMG_0029.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The Pinedas. She was the Relief Society President and <i>so </i>nice. One hot day we dropped something off at her house that she needed for a lesson and when she opened the door we were just dying from the heat and humidity. She took one look at us and asked if we needed a drink of water. We did, desperately, so she gave us water and popsicles.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZSVSsaEuSs/Tzw-lBeG9kI/AAAAAAAADlw/yIl4I2OqJEc/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VZSVSsaEuSs/Tzw-lBeG9kI/AAAAAAAADlw/yIl4I2OqJEc/s320/IMG_0032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The rest of the Relief Society presidency. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ANCGhabk09c/Tz3A-YwloeI/AAAAAAAADl4/IufRU-2cokg/s1600/IMG_0035+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ANCGhabk09c/Tz3A-YwloeI/AAAAAAAADl4/IufRU-2cokg/s320/IMG_0035+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hermana Cuevas<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_-tgD_wywfY/Tz3BK5sKdqI/AAAAAAAADmA/OkTo0bUbUdU/s1600/IMG_0034+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_-tgD_wywfY/Tz3BK5sKdqI/AAAAAAAADmA/OkTo0bUbUdU/s320/IMG_0034+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-9070237368197725152012-02-15T11:02:00.001-08:002012-02-15T11:04:50.680-08:00Area #2 - Midwood, BrooklynMidwood was smack dab in the middle of Brooklyn, but our area went all the way down to the coast (Coney Island). We lived in a house right next to the church, which was <i>so</i> nice. The Spanish sisters (us) lived on the third floor in the back in a small apartment. The English sisters (there were 4 of them), lived on the second and third floors in the front of the house. Their part was much bigger than ours. The Bishop's Storehouse was in the back on the first floor, and the Family History Center was on the first floor in the front. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tpF7_DGYpwM/TziL0HxNhCI/AAAAAAAADkw/6YO30WccenE/s1600/IMG_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tpF7_DGYpwM/TziL0HxNhCI/AAAAAAAADkw/6YO30WccenE/s320/IMG_0007.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FVPs5nw4-r8/TziL4Kki5YI/AAAAAAAADk4/obgghJCzCZM/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FVPs5nw4-r8/TziL4Kki5YI/AAAAAAAADk4/obgghJCzCZM/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kz5ZzV7Cfws/TziL6rCNsbI/AAAAAAAADlA/b8s8Jy5q_6k/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kz5ZzV7Cfws/TziL6rCNsbI/AAAAAAAADlA/b8s8Jy5q_6k/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni746ZlWYd0/TzwBqrPWjdI/AAAAAAAADlY/WdY0kHKAAXE/s1600/IMG_0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ni746ZlWYd0/TzwBqrPWjdI/AAAAAAAADlY/WdY0kHKAAXE/s320/IMG_0014.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br />
I ended up being in Midwood for 6 months and it was one of my favorite areas. The ward there was much bigger than the branch in Freeport. There was a 10-year-old girl named Nerissa who played the piano in sacrament meeting (just the top hand). She was super cute and <i>loved </i>sister missionaries because she wanted to go on a mission when she was older. (She's the one next to me in this picture.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rebR1QAhs_8/TziN1WuR8vI/AAAAAAAADlI/FPkABM_uouo/s1600/IMG_0028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rebR1QAhs_8/TziN1WuR8vI/AAAAAAAADlI/FPkABM_uouo/s320/IMG_0028.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
During the time I was in Midwood I had 2 companions: Sister Allred and Sister Auna (my greenie! in the picture above).Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-81687822844155374522012-02-12T19:56:00.000-08:002012-02-15T14:46:12.855-08:00My First Transfer CallThe last Sunday of my second transfer I got a call from the zone leaders telling me that I was being transferred to Midwood, Brooklyn to serve with Sister Allred. When I heard that I got kind of nervous. I had never been in a big city like that before. Sister Allred was actually my "companion" at the greenie street sweep the day I got to NY and the only other thing that I knew about her was that she had really good Spanish and was a really good teacher (which was true!). Sister Gines found out that she was training again, so we had to get to transfer meeting a little early so she could get her companion. A couple hours later I was on my way to Brooklyn with Sister Allred, on my very first subway ride.Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-70237975955536467832011-08-09T19:02:00.000-07:002011-08-09T19:02:28.783-07:00Other Freeport Stories<b>Story #1 </b><br />
<br />
One of the inactive members of the branch invited us over for dinner for her husband's birthday. The drink they gave us was carbonated and a light pink color - I just thought it was soda. Then I tasted it and it didn't taste familiar, so I thought it was just some kind of weird soda. Apparently my companion was trying to catch my eye across the table because she knew what it <i>really</i> was after just one sip, but I wasn't paying attention. Later she looked at the bottle that the drink came from and when we left she informed me that the drink contained 0.6% alcohol! It didn't affect me physically at all, but I felt <i>awful</i> for drinking it, even though I didn't know what it was. I was/still am kind of naive, so I had no clue what alcohol tasted or smelled or looked like. Even though it wasn't something I did intentionally, I still felt so bad for the next couple of days.<br />
<br />
<b>Story #2</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
My first Sunday in the area I was asked to bear my testimony in sacrament meeting. Not unusual when you're a missionary. However, it was my first time doing this sort of thing since it was my first area, and I was feeling a little worn out and discouraged that day. So I start talking and then I start <i>crying</i> and after I sat down I <i>continued</i> crying and didn't stop for the rest of the meeting! I don't know why I couldn't control myself. I think it had just hit me that I was on a <i>mission</i> and what the heck was I doing there! Sister Gines had 3 tissues and I used them all up before I was done. One of the sweet little girls went and got me a cup of water and after the meeting all the hermanas surrounded me and said how glad they were that I was there and were all trying to speak English to make me feel better, etc. It was really nice and that really started my love for that branch. Also, that night at our dinner appointment (we went to the same house every Sunday) Hermana Nerio made the <i>best </i>pork chops and mashed potatoes (not an easy task when mashed potatoes aren't a part of your culture). She told Sister Gines that she wanted to make the meal to make the new missionary (me) feel more at home. She was such a sweet lady!Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-14765896241257926022011-08-01T19:20:00.000-07:002011-08-01T19:20:20.214-07:00Miscellaneous/Interesting ThingsThe sisters we lived with were Sister Ferrin and Sister Goff. They were English speaking and they actually lived more or less in their area (unlike us - we had to drive 20 minutes to our area every day). We did a few fun things at night or on p-days. Sister Goff hit her halfway mark and her mom somehow ordered pizza from a pizza place (Domino's?) that was nearby. The pizzas were all half one topping and half something else.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVUlo_nw-40/TjdbiKdUgsI/AAAAAAAAC68/Tw3ltD2nEi8/s1600/IMG_0006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JVUlo_nw-40/TjdbiKdUgsI/AAAAAAAAC68/Tw3ltD2nEi8/s320/IMG_0006.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes we would make breakfast together. Sister Goff would put coffee creamer in the french toast batter and it was really good.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7ehaZyTOok/Tjdb4f3okkI/AAAAAAAAC7A/GEi6sJtWcbs/s1600/IMG_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o7ehaZyTOok/Tjdb4f3okkI/AAAAAAAAC7A/GEi6sJtWcbs/s320/IMG_0011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On New Year's Eve the missionaries had to be in their apartments by 5:30-ish. So we had a little party with some chocolate pie I made.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYSVU8X37Tw/TjdeAA5W8hI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/q_Hq9Vi5hrY/s1600/IMG_0087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYSVU8X37Tw/TjdeAA5W8hI/AAAAAAAAC7Y/q_Hq9Vi5hrY/s320/IMG_0087.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Sister Goff got transferred after my first transfer and Sister Zufelt took her place. Here she is with me and Sister Ferrin modeling some scarves my grandma made for Christmas.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pM8RkeNH_aE/TjdcQbCtmqI/AAAAAAAAC7E/6mlLpfdM4cU/s1600/IMG_0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pM8RkeNH_aE/TjdcQbCtmqI/AAAAAAAAC7E/6mlLpfdM4cU/s320/IMG_0036.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There were so many cute little kids in the branch or at the homes we would visit. It was so hard to obey the rule of not holding babies or children while I was on my mission. So sometimes we just had to play with them or take a cute picture.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8rmvFTim10/TjdcvEPIxhI/AAAAAAAAC7I/Gzsvuy93r3M/s1600/IMG_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d8rmvFTim10/TjdcvEPIxhI/AAAAAAAAC7I/Gzsvuy93r3M/s320/IMG_0082.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fEB8l0jFVzE/Tjdc5oU52xI/AAAAAAAAC7M/g__DcK69pWg/s1600/IMG_0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fEB8l0jFVzE/Tjdc5oU52xI/AAAAAAAAC7M/g__DcK69pWg/s320/IMG_0063.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5KlgsM3MhxA/TjdeMsTn9pI/AAAAAAAAC7c/-Ll7crgNBMI/s1600/IMG_0086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5KlgsM3MhxA/TjdeMsTn9pI/AAAAAAAAC7c/-Ll7crgNBMI/s320/IMG_0086.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And sometimes they would just jump on my back, so I rolled with it. (He really did just jump on my back. I couldn't do anything I promise!) That crazy Ronaldo. He was hilarious.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6DFh3cmNCc/TjddCWaeH0I/AAAAAAAAC7Q/idM_JNBCUYs/s1600/IMG_0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--6DFh3cmNCc/TjddCWaeH0I/AAAAAAAAC7Q/idM_JNBCUYs/s320/IMG_0067.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
This is some kind of weird church or something. It was the craziest looking thing I've ever seen. The picture really doesn't do it justice. From what I remember there was all kinds of false doctrine written everywhere. We knocked on the door to see what it was, but nobody opened it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sd-BZZ0xUTk/Tjddlw-3G9I/AAAAAAAAC7U/Wjcv72JT_gI/s1600/IMG_0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sd-BZZ0xUTk/Tjddlw-3G9I/AAAAAAAAC7U/Wjcv72JT_gI/s320/IMG_0045.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
At some point in her mission, Sister Gines made friends with a lady named Cristina. Cristina absolutely loved Sister Gines and one day she came from wherever she was from and took us out to lunch, bought us stuff at the grocery store, and then gave Sister Gines a card (which she later opened and there was money inside). Cristina wasn't a member of the Church and didn't plan on becoming one, but she was one of the most generous people I have ever met.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Huwbv_WkiV8/Tjde2XVY94I/AAAAAAAAC7g/G8N3FZ9Q-u0/s1600/IMG_0083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Huwbv_WkiV8/Tjde2XVY94I/AAAAAAAAC7g/G8N3FZ9Q-u0/s320/IMG_0083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-46743241034604765902011-08-01T18:57:00.000-07:002011-08-26T19:00:48.936-07:00Our District and Zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our district leader was Elder Hardy and his companion was Elder Davis. Elder Davis was actually called as an English missionary but was switched to Spanish for a couple of transfers. It was really hard for him because he didn't know any Spanish at all and he had kind of a hick accent, but he was super cool. Elder Hardy was a good DL and we had a lot of fun in our district. At one of our meetings we played Jeopardy and I ended up getting two song questions, and had to sing Book of Mormon Stories and I'm a Little Teapot (the second one <i>without</i> laughing - I didn't make it).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kgZN8jriCaM/TjcsOMEG6aI/AAAAAAAAC6s/AsodP41dWNs/s1600/IMG_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kgZN8jriCaM/TjcsOMEG6aI/AAAAAAAAC6s/AsodP41dWNs/s320/IMG_0055.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Our zone leaders were Elder Harnos and Elder Phillips. There was one elder from my MTC district in this zone, Elder Marsh. He's the tall one in the middle of the back row.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7vsLJ9KeTo/TjcsTuwGkyI/AAAAAAAAC6w/bJJobO0PvNY/s1600/IMG_0056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7vsLJ9KeTo/TjcsTuwGkyI/AAAAAAAAC6w/bJJobO0PvNY/s320/IMG_0056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We had zone conference every transfer. Usually the zones from each area of the mission (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island) would meet together - I think there were usually about 3 zones in each area. This picture was from my first zone conference and we actually combined with Brooklyn for this one. All the sisters there got together for a picture. The one on the far left is Sister Morrow, our mission president's wife. Two of my future companions are also in this picture: Sister Allred and Sister Ivanova.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O-6Yu0kNEUA/TjcsYCctSGI/AAAAAAAAC60/KcZ9prYV9fg/s1600/IMG_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O-6Yu0kNEUA/TjcsYCctSGI/AAAAAAAAC60/KcZ9prYV9fg/s320/IMG_0042.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-1660704918413996542011-07-17T12:59:00.001-07:002012-03-03T19:05:32.478-08:00My TrainerMy trainer and companion was Christy Gines, from Highland, UT. To this day I am convinced that she is the only sister who could have trained me with the love and patience that she had. Not that I was difficult (I hope), but like I mentioned before I had a hard time with homesickness sometimes, it was really hard for me to talk to people, and just adjusting to mission life in general was a little rough. If I had to describe her in a few words they would be patient, loving, forgiving, fun, happy, and outgoing. She loved the people, she loved me, she loved the other sisters in our pad, and she loved the Savior. Her Spanish may not have been perfect, but people didn't care because they liked her. <br />
<br />
Sister Gines always looked for ways to serve other people. One time we came out of an apartment building that we were tracting and she noticed a lady across the street raking her leaves. A pretty everyday thing to see. She ran right over and took the rake from her and started raking. Another time we saw some people we had tried to teach a time or two walking home carrying groceries, so we went and helped them carry them home. She would always look for little ways to serve every day and was a great example.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqGtlxr366I/TiM-2jXGwQI/AAAAAAAAC5c/ufrYhzYx8R8/s1600/IMG_0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nqGtlxr366I/TiM-2jXGwQI/AAAAAAAAC5c/ufrYhzYx8R8/s320/IMG_0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67yPz_15YyA/TiM-4vr0UyI/AAAAAAAAC5g/Rk9Fx1yfLaE/s1600/IMG_0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-67yPz_15YyA/TiM-4vr0UyI/AAAAAAAAC5g/Rk9Fx1yfLaE/s320/IMG_0010.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2wfXR056xiQ/TiM-6CJo-GI/AAAAAAAAC5k/AF8cIil1IIA/s1600/IMG_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2wfXR056xiQ/TiM-6CJo-GI/AAAAAAAAC5k/AF8cIil1IIA/s320/IMG_0012.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LJbGas8xOaE/TiM-9hRivoI/AAAAAAAAC5o/ueRfoq9Hnio/s1600/IMG_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LJbGas8xOaE/TiM-9hRivoI/AAAAAAAAC5o/ueRfoq9Hnio/s320/IMG_0041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-90220467430329696782011-07-08T19:50:00.000-07:002011-08-08T19:10:24.550-07:00ChristmasMy first Christmas away from home - it was a little rough for me. Not because a bunch of hard things happened around that time, but because I had a tendency to get homesick sometimes, especially in the beginning. However, it was also a great Christmas thanks to my companion, our branch, and the fun mission conference.<br />
<br />
We helped decorate the church for the branch Christmas party. Parties with the Latinos were always so fun. I don't know if it was irreverent or not, but they would always play super loud music (in the church) during the parties and have a great time with lots of food, talking, and sometimes dancing. However, I think this party was a little calmer than normal if I remember right.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-960J3V-B3L8/The9muSKD3I/AAAAAAAAC5I/M0B4B7XF6r4/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-960J3V-B3L8/The9muSKD3I/AAAAAAAAC5I/M0B4B7XF6r4/s320/IMG_0019.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDys6F2r_-Y/The-SoNbocI/AAAAAAAAC5M/HqpO6xSrjzM/s1600/IMG_0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDys6F2r_-Y/The-SoNbocI/AAAAAAAAC5M/HqpO6xSrjzM/s320/IMG_0080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n3w8yK9kO4c/The-cYkiQNI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/zNYNImf1eLI/s1600/IMG_0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n3w8yK9kO4c/The-cYkiQNI/AAAAAAAAC5Q/zNYNImf1eLI/s320/IMG_0021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The mission Christmas conference was always good. The whole mission would get together, so it was bigger than just zone conference. First we had a speaker, Elder Smith our Area Authority, and then a program with a bunch of musical numbers. After that was lunch, and of course I wrote in my journal what we ate: chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad and dessert. Oh the mashed potatoes; they were something I definitely missed while serving with the Spanish speaking people, so it was nice to have them one time. We also did white elephant gifts. I can't remember what I took, but I ended up with these weird clown hooks that you hang on the wall.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rXhC34FGPQU/ThfA4PSIUVI/AAAAAAAAC5U/cLt8QcNLX4Y/s1600/IMG_0013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rXhC34FGPQU/ThfA4PSIUVI/AAAAAAAAC5U/cLt8QcNLX4Y/s320/IMG_0013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-GD4VYDdUA/ThfA_2jkIXI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/TadvbnM6gcw/s1600/IMG_0014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-GD4VYDdUA/ThfA_2jkIXI/AAAAAAAAC5Y/TadvbnM6gcw/s320/IMG_0014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
At the end of the conference we took a mission picture, so here we all are:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2OLm5Qywww/TkCW_q_7JBI/AAAAAAAAC8M/GXWz6bcxZi8/s1600/CCF08082011_00000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N2OLm5Qywww/TkCW_q_7JBI/AAAAAAAAC8M/GXWz6bcxZi8/s320/CCF08082011_00000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
On Christmas Eve that year we did a lot of tracting and looking up referrals. In the middle of it all we got a call from a counselor in the branch presidency asking us to speak in church (2 days later). It was the first talk I was asked to give on my mission and I spent a good portion of Christmas Day writing it. For dinner on Christmas Eve Hermana Chavez invited us over and fed us tamales and watched the Joy to the World movie. Her "husband" was there the whole time drinking his beer. She gave us presents (see picture in Investigators/Less Actives section - the one with the funky purses), and sprayed us with a bunch of her perfume. The rest of the evening we smelled like grandmas. She was such a funny lady.<br />
<br />
Christmas Day I made myself some blueberry muffins and bacon for breakfast. You have to have something special on Christmas right? Then we went to the church to call our families which was <i>so</i> nice. Then, of course, I worked on my talk for the next day. That night we went caroling with part of our zone in a couple of apartment buildings. For dinner we stopped at a place that had 3 or 4 fast food places in it. I had Pizza Hut and Sister Gines had Taco Bell. Yum :).Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-48963403719434390832011-07-08T19:24:00.000-07:002011-07-08T19:24:47.961-07:00P-Day in FreeportPreparation days in Freeport always started out the same. The laundromat was right across the street, so at 6:30 we'd wake up, throw on some clothes and walk across the street, start our loads and do scripture study while we waited. We were usually the only ones there since it was so early.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXHXuQJkqJ0/The6GQi9OSI/AAAAAAAAC4w/UyoXkLkvDlM/s1600/IMG_0047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fXHXuQJkqJ0/The6GQi9OSI/AAAAAAAAC4w/UyoXkLkvDlM/s320/IMG_0047.jpg" width="217" /></a></div><br />
We'd try to get to the library right when it opened so we could email our families and have the rest of the day to write letters/in our journals, grocery shop, go play and/or take a nap (oh how I love my naps). In the first picture I'm outside the library trying to get my picture taken with one of New York's famous pigeons, but he wouldn't cooperate.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8efCIogvqs/The60vNIP1I/AAAAAAAAC40/ax_GKrfiAYI/s1600/IMG_0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T8efCIogvqs/The60vNIP1I/AAAAAAAAC40/ax_GKrfiAYI/s320/IMG_0005.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pNs79XmQwPw/The7DqXe0SI/AAAAAAAAC44/OCoKnxZ-maU/s1600/IMG_0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pNs79XmQwPw/The7DqXe0SI/AAAAAAAAC44/OCoKnxZ-maU/s320/IMG_0030.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KveT_L2xO5w/The7RvURB8I/AAAAAAAAC48/DaAvZQs0XME/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KveT_L2xO5w/The7RvURB8I/AAAAAAAAC48/DaAvZQs0XME/s320/IMG_0032.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I'll admit, I <i>loved</i> p-day. At the end of the day on Sunday I was always so glad that the next day was Monday because I was always so worn out by then! It was nice to have a day to "recuperate" and rest.Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-32561814187596167052010-09-16T13:07:00.000-07:002010-09-16T13:07:23.000-07:00An AdventureShortly after Christmas, we had a huge snowstorm that lasted most of Saturday and into Sunday. All missionaries with cars had to park them and walk. This wasn't a problem for the city missionaries, who didn't have cars anyway, but for us on Long Island, it meant we got a lot of exercise and not much else. Sister Gines and I actually didn't even live in our area, so we left our area early on Saturday to park the car at our apartment. Then we trudged through snow to try and tract in an area that wasn't ours. And we didn't live by very many houses/apartments. So it was a little challenging.<br />
<br />
Trudging through the snow<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3Yv9_a1I/AAAAAAAACn4/T9n2xuIU6vE/s1600/IMG_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3Yv9_a1I/AAAAAAAACn4/T9n2xuIU6vE/s320/IMG_0069.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Passed the Amityville sign (where we lived) so we stopped for pictures<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3bUll9FI/AAAAAAAACoA/HE76jHTLXvI/s1600/IMG_0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3bUll9FI/AAAAAAAACoA/HE76jHTLXvI/s320/IMG_0068.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Found a random cart, so I hopped in<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3eaHZHBI/AAAAAAAACoI/BMleJFmRrn8/s1600/IMG_0070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3eaHZHBI/AAAAAAAACoI/BMleJFmRrn8/s320/IMG_0070.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Church was cancelled the next day because of all the snow. We didn't want to tract an untracteable area again, so we took the Long Island Railroad into our area. I think it cost us like $7. By then it wasn't snowing anymore, but we still weren't allowed to use our cars. We met the elders in our district at the church to decide what we were going to do that day. We decided to all walk to a house where an inactive member lived. She wasn't usually home, but her sister was and we were trying to get her baptized since she had been coming to church for about a year and a half. And she always fed us on Sundays. (I heard after I came home that she finally did get baptized!)<br />
<br />
So we made the long trek to their house, but first we got all bundled up (it was so cold!). I'm the shorter one.:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3hQj471I/AAAAAAAACoQ/w50APEGVL2A/s1600/IMG_0071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3hQj471I/AAAAAAAACoQ/w50APEGVL2A/s320/IMG_0071.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Our district outside the church:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3l52Lt4I/AAAAAAAACoY/NOi0_E62ZaA/s1600/IMG_0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3l52Lt4I/AAAAAAAACoY/NOi0_E62ZaA/s320/IMG_0073.jpg" /></a></div><br />
After we finally got there and ate and thawed out a little, we had a little snowball fight with the kids that live there. (This definitely wasn't your typical Sunday.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3qZwtXtI/AAAAAAAACog/MGGUsaxu29Q/s1600/IMG_0075.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3qZwtXtI/AAAAAAAACog/MGGUsaxu29Q/s320/IMG_0075.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I think the rest of the day was spent trying to tract, look up inactives, etc. By the time we got on the train to head back home, I was exhausted.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3tc4KBOI/AAAAAAAACoo/PeeHKRl7PlU/s1600/IMG_0076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJ3tc4KBOI/AAAAAAAACoo/PeeHKRl7PlU/s320/IMG_0076.jpg" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-46848092984080203912010-09-16T12:46:00.000-07:002010-09-16T12:46:55.022-07:00A Sad StoryDuring my first transfer we tracted into a family from El Salvador. The oldest daughter, Louisa, was 15 years old and pregnant. Not by her own choice. One day she went down to the basement to take something to her uncle (whose family lived down there), and he took advantage of her. When we met them I think she was about 8 months pregnant. I can't remember if the uncle still lived there or not (we never met him). It was one of the saddest things I've ever heard. This family was very nice, quiet and unassuming. So sad that something like that had to happen to them.<br />
<br />
They did come to church once, but I think they felt kind of overwhelmed by all the well-meaning members, so they never came again. We did visit them from time to time, though. Louisa turned 16 so we made a cake and took it to her.<br />
<br />
Our beautiful cake<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJzaRzvtbI/AAAAAAAACng/OpxOVF_yD9c/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJzaRzvtbI/AAAAAAAACng/OpxOVF_yD9c/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Louisa blowing out the candles<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJzcVyDFPI/AAAAAAAACno/EBH9fIgE95s/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJzcVyDFPI/AAAAAAAACno/EBH9fIgE95s/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We took the YW president with us, along with the one active young woman from the branch.<br />
Left to Right: me, Santana (mom), Ines (little sister), Hna Chirinos, Louisa, Prisila Orduno<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJzd_lCwQI/AAAAAAAACnw/L1ePT8cq568/s1600/IMG_0003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TJJzd_lCwQI/AAAAAAAACnw/L1ePT8cq568/s320/IMG_0003.jpg" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-18335794718140719712010-06-05T19:18:00.000-07:002011-07-08T19:12:23.441-07:00BaptismDuring my second transfer, Mayra Rodriguez was baptized. It was a little difficult getting it to happen, courtesy of the branch president, but it happened! I remember it had been kind of a hard week. My sister had gotten married back at home, we accidentally juked (didn't show up to an appointment) an investigator, <i>we </i>were juked so many times, and everything was just kind of discouraging. But then we witnessed a baptism and it was all worth it. It went really well and her son Jose came along with one of her nieces. <br />
<br />
The picture I took of her in white turned out super blurry, so this is the only one I have of her from that night. She's the one next to Sister Gines.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TAsFWG2Nt-I/AAAAAAAACUc/u96Hkh6l698/s1600/IMG_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/TAsFWG2Nt-I/AAAAAAAACUc/u96Hkh6l698/s320/IMG_0033.jpg" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-7441940074834429382010-04-05T12:48:00.000-07:002011-08-01T19:01:57.178-07:00Freeport Investigators/Less ActivesEven though Freeport was a "struggling" area, we did have some awesome investigators and were able to activate a less-active hermana.<br />
<br />
<b>Liliana</b> was from Colombia. She was like 4'7" or something and was a spunky little lady. The first time I talked to her was on the phone a few days after I had arrived. My companion was talking to her and I guess Liliana was having a hard time with life and was thinking about possibly ending it. All of a sudden my comp said, "My companion is going to sing you a song" and handed me the phone. We flipped open the hymn book and I sang "Lead Kindly Light". I guess it helped because she didn't follow through with her plans. She never did get baptized, at least while I was there, but I think learning about the gospel and coming to church helped her a lot, probably more than I even know.<br />
<br />
She liked to bring us Colombian food sometimes. Oh yum.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o321HczfI/AAAAAAAACH4/q1sMSU9X-7Y/s1600/IMG_0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o321HczfI/AAAAAAAACH4/q1sMSU9X-7Y/s320/IMG_0084.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o34JIdE_I/AAAAAAAACIA/1Lj9eqrnAbk/s1600/IMG_0085.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o34JIdE_I/AAAAAAAACIA/1Lj9eqrnAbk/s320/IMG_0085.jpg" /></a></div>My companion took the pictures in case you're wondering if it was just me and the elders.<br />
<br />
<b>Mayra </b>was from Honduras. She lived and worked in a hotel. Every time we would go teach her she always wanted to make us dinner, even though she didn't have a lot. Once she splurged and we had pasta with shrimp. Another time she ordered pizza. But it was usually rice with some meaty soupy something. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o5vodiwoI/AAAAAAAACII/UdjfIlLnY_0/s1600/IMG_0015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o5vodiwoI/AAAAAAAACII/UdjfIlLnY_0/s320/IMG_0015.jpg" /></a></div><br />
She got us trouser socks for Christmas (that's what we wore a lot during the winter).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o5xu_rImI/AAAAAAAACIQ/F9mndn9fOpk/s1600/IMG_0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o5xu_rImI/AAAAAAAACIQ/F9mndn9fOpk/s320/IMG_0016.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She became a friend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-87TA3FhY0NQ/The5jfp9aVI/AAAAAAAAC4s/-RJCJwfzoAQ/s1600/IMG_0036-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-87TA3FhY0NQ/The5jfp9aVI/AAAAAAAAC4s/-RJCJwfzoAQ/s320/IMG_0036-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>She introduced one of her friends to us to teach.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o59ahxmtI/AAAAAAAACIY/Dc1R2CoDAxE/s1600/IMG_0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o59ahxmtI/AAAAAAAACIY/Dc1R2CoDAxE/s320/IMG_0061.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And she got baptized! (See next post.) We were so happy because Freeport hadn't had a baptism for quite a while.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<b>Maira </b>was the daughter of a member and was about 12 years old. She was deaf and had one blue eye and one brown eye (which I always thought was really cool). She taught us some sign language, which I can't remember anymore, but it helped us communicate a little better. She could also read lips pretty well, and I think she did have a <i>little</i> bit of hearing. She didn't ever get baptized, at least not when I was there, but after I had been home from my mission a couple years I heard that her dad got baptized. So maybe she did too.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o7Tnh78OI/AAAAAAAACIo/RZxFZY9WxYE/s1600/IMG_0078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o7Tnh78OI/AAAAAAAACIo/RZxFZY9WxYE/s320/IMG_0078.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Veronica </b>was the daughter of another member, also about 12 years old. I don't think she was every really too interested in the church, but she seemed to like it when we came over. We usually tried to have some kind of game prepared to help her learn what we were teaching. In the picture she's the one on the left. The girl on the right was a member that we would bring with us sometimes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o8HnAP6GI/AAAAAAAACIw/QtMx2mCGepQ/s1600/IMG_0060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o8HnAP6GI/AAAAAAAACIw/QtMx2mCGepQ/s320/IMG_0060.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Reina</b> was from El Salvador. We met her when our branch was having an open house for their new church building. Basically Hermana Gines and I (I mostly just followed) dragged her in from the street to come see it. Then we got her contact info and started visiting her. She was always really nice and would give us things (very Hispanic), but I don't think she was really all that interested. She was fun to get to know though. One night we helped her with her laundry so we could teach her and then she took us out for pupusas, yum!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i1BTQqZyQgA/The8tlsgECI/AAAAAAAAC5A/2U9bOuX5TYs/s1600/IMG_0062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i1BTQqZyQgA/The8tlsgECI/AAAAAAAAC5A/2U9bOuX5TYs/s320/IMG_0062.jpg" width="219" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc3Luna6Qvc/The8yh9lIMI/AAAAAAAAC5E/Jei0SDV2JN0/s1600/IMG_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc3Luna6Qvc/The8yh9lIMI/AAAAAAAAC5E/Jei0SDV2JN0/s320/IMG_0038.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br />
And I can't forget the <b>Sanchez family</b>. We knocked on their door one night and they let us in. We ended up talking with the husband for like 2 hours (well, he did most of the talking I think), and we went back a couple of times. They loved us, and they were Seventh Day Adventists. I think the husband was pretty high up in the leadership at their church too. We went back a few times, invited them to our church - they came once - they invited us to their church - we went once (very interesting), but in the end we had to tell them that we couldn't visit anymore because they really weren't interested in what we had to say. They just liked "hanging out". They were a great family though.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyNtM1IvHKc/TjdahEc3EjI/AAAAAAAAC64/1N2GyjBmM10/s1600/IMG_0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FyNtM1IvHKc/TjdahEc3EjI/AAAAAAAAC64/1N2GyjBmM10/s320/IMG_0039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Hermana Chavez</b> was a less-active from Guatemala. She and her "husband" (I'm pretty sure they weren't really married) lived in a tiny apartment filled with cockroaches and a million other things. She was a funny lady, always wanting to give us hugs and kisses and food. She actually started coming back to church right before I got transferred, and when I told her I was leaving for another area she got all choked up and just gave me a hug because she couldn't speak.<br />
<br />
For Christmas we gave her a beanie and she gave us thses funky purses with skanky women stitched on them.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o9Ybr_CVI/AAAAAAAACI4/VneThm-nrhc/s1600/IMG_0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o9Ybr_CVI/AAAAAAAACI4/VneThm-nrhc/s320/IMG_0018.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o9akNOohI/AAAAAAAACJA/fZS-nOruXDA/s1600/IMG_0033-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o9akNOohI/AAAAAAAACJA/fZS-nOruXDA/s320/IMG_0033-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o9dPMWEYI/AAAAAAAACJI/u961dbbwhkw/s1600/IMG_0034-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S7o9dPMWEYI/AAAAAAAACJI/u961dbbwhkw/s320/IMG_0034-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Most Hispanics don't smile for pictures in case you're wondering why she always looks so grumpy.Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-67885951102319847692010-03-24T08:52:00.000-07:002010-03-24T08:52:44.058-07:00Freeport Members<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
The branch in Freeport struggled a little, but there were some really awesome members who kept it going. <br />
<br />
The Chirinos family was wonderful. They were both returned missionaries and did a LOT for the branch. I think they were pretty overwhelmed sometimes, but we loved them for what they did.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6ovREAoi2I/AAAAAAAACE0/cWzChpfW03A/s1600/IMG_0034-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6ovREAoi2I/AAAAAAAACE0/cWzChpfW03A/s320/IMG_0034-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
There were a lot of really cute kids. This little girl was soooo cute:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6oxbEffhEI/AAAAAAAACE8/7m-V2ChhYS8/s1600/IMG_0032-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6oxbEffhEI/AAAAAAAACE8/7m-V2ChhYS8/s320/IMG_0032-2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Sometimes we got to help in the Primary:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6oxfPpXwpI/AAAAAAAACFE/Hm5OYmbYgCo/s1600/IMG_0033-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6oxfPpXwpI/AAAAAAAACFE/Hm5OYmbYgCo/s320/IMG_0033-2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Their parents went out of town for a couple of weeks and they asked us to help them with their homework because they lady they had babysitting couldn't speak English. So we just counted it as our service hours for the week. We had a lot of fun with them. Ronaldo was really funny and kept trying to climb on me.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6oxndqD-iI/AAAAAAAACFM/VDBy5xK4yc0/s1600/IMG_0064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6oxndqD-iI/AAAAAAAACFM/VDBy5xK4yc0/s320/IMG_0064.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6oxsZbBcgI/AAAAAAAACFU/3qGVyLoYhQw/s1600/IMG_0066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6oxsZbBcgI/AAAAAAAACFU/3qGVyLoYhQw/s320/IMG_0066.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Some of the kids at the branch Christmas party:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6o0abXzo3I/AAAAAAAACFc/QZbJoucWP3k/s1600/IMG_0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6o0abXzo3I/AAAAAAAACFc/QZbJoucWP3k/s320/IMG_0020.jpg" /></a></div><br />
We helped with the Young Women's Evening of Excellence. These girls (most of which actually weren't even members) are practicing a song that they sang.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6o1Ata-mfI/AAAAAAAACFk/kLLcn_aOvrM/s1600/IMG_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6o1Ata-mfI/AAAAAAAACFk/kLLcn_aOvrM/s320/IMG_0052.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Maira was deaf, so the three of us signed the words of the song. This is her teaching us the signs.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6o1ChbFBFI/AAAAAAAACFs/91hXFgXvJ0U/s1600/IMG_0053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6o1ChbFBFI/AAAAAAAACFs/91hXFgXvJ0U/s320/IMG_0053.jpg" /></a></div><br />
At the branch Christmas party. The girl in the red shirt is one of two YW who ever came to church.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6o1KM5wrpI/AAAAAAAACF0/Jn5ddeHuAdY/s1600/IMG_0081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S6o1KM5wrpI/AAAAAAAACF0/Jn5ddeHuAdY/s320/IMG_0081.jpg" /></a></div>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-80771817281867452422010-03-08T19:38:00.000-08:002010-03-08T19:57:34.754-08:00Area #1 - FreeportMy first area was Freeport, just east of Queens on Long Island. It was the only car area I was ever in (which is good considering the large quantities of rice and beans we ate). Our apartment was above a 99 cent store (below) and we shared the one bedroom pad (yes, we called them pads) with another companionship. Sister Gines and I slept in the living room (2nd pic).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5XGXo_qmrI/AAAAAAAAB-g/cSQQ4XSpYuM/s1600-h/IMG_0051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5XGXo_qmrI/AAAAAAAAB-g/cSQQ4XSpYuM/s320/IMG_0051.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446477433818225330" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5XGiu5PDVI/AAAAAAAAB-o/xqAP0su3b1w/s1600-h/IMG_0050.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5XGiu5PDVI/AAAAAAAAB-o/xqAP0su3b1w/s320/IMG_0050.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446477624380427602" /></a><br />I'm not a morning person, and exercising early in the morning is even worse. But, we were supposed to do it. And my comp liked to go running. So every morning we would run a couple of blocks to a little park with a pond where I walked and she ran. It was a really cute place and I wish I would have thought to take a picture, but I never did.<br /><br />Long Island is, well, an island, and Freeport was located on the bottom edge, so it was on the "coast", if you could call it that. There weren't any beaches, but there was a little harbor. One of the members whose daughter we were teaching lived right on it, so one day when we were down there we stopped to take some pictures.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5XGv4yTUQI/AAAAAAAAB-w/_XsvFVQvMfE/s1600-h/IMG_0030-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 226px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5XGv4yTUQI/AAAAAAAAB-w/_XsvFVQvMfE/s320/IMG_0030-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446477850374000898" /></a><br />The branch in Freeport was pretty small. I think there were maybe 35-45 people in church every week. Although the work there was hard and not very fruitful, I still look back at it with fond memories. My first Sunday there I was called to come up and bear my testimony (a regular occurrence when a new missionary was transferred into an area), and I think when I was up there it just hit me that I was on a MISSION, and I just started crying and crying. And I kept crying through the whole meeting. I couldn't stop! But everyone was <span style="font-style:italic;">so</span> sweet. One little girl went and got me a drink of water, and after the meeting all the hermanas surrounded me and gave me hugs and said it would be ok and they were so glad I was there, etc. I loved that little branch and was so grateful to serve there.<br /><br />These are some of the hermanas in the branch. Aren't they sweet?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5XG5Jb05eI/AAAAAAAAB-4/hKMxQyzK4Ug/s1600-h/IMG_0009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 216px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5XG5Jb05eI/AAAAAAAAB-4/hKMxQyzK4Ug/s320/IMG_0009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446478009461958114" /></a>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-6732566639059693322010-03-06T13:17:00.001-08:002010-03-06T13:49:27.522-08:00Leaving for the New York New York South MissionThe day we got our travel plans was so exciting! But kinda scary. It was like knowing when we were going to leave made it so much more real. We left November 15th really early in the morning. I don't remember the time, but I think I woke up at about 2 am. Being tired and nervous don't make a good combination. Yes, I was super nervous.<br /><br />The flight wasn't long enough for me, but you can't put off the inevitable. We arrived in NY at around 4:00 pm ET and were picked up by our mission president, President Morrow, and the APs. They said we looked like deer in headlights. I'm sure we did. We <span style="font-style:italic;">thought</span> we were going straight to the mission home, but they had other plans for us. The following excerpt is from my journal because when I wrote it it was fresher on my mind so I think I describe it better than I could now:<br /><br />"When we left the airport we drove to an area in Queens and they basically threw us right in. They call it a "street sweep". We got paired up with other missionaries who had already been there a while and kind of went at it. I watched my "companion" Hna Allred do it for a little while, and then I got on the Soap Box [yes we had a soap box. it was a crate that said "Soap Box"] and street preached about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. In Spanish of course. I actually kind of liked doing that. Then I ended up approaching a couple of people and I would get as far as introducing us and asking if they have ever heard of the church and then I would pull Hna Allred in to do the rest. It was the scariest night of my life! Afterwards it wasn't too bad, but while I was in the moment and doing it, I was <span style="font-style:italic;">terrified</span>"<br /><br />So that's how we were introduced to our mission. Most zones did street sweeps every Saturday, so that wasn't the last time I would be doing that. After about 1/2 hour of sweeping the streets, we were finally taken to the mission home, where Sister Morrow had a nice dinner waiting for us. Then we had a devotional, welcome to the mission kind of thing and went to bed. I think I had a hard time sleeping that night. Probably because I was super tired and wondering what the heck I was doing there.<br /><br />The next day was transfer meeting, so after breakfast we left for the mission office to meet our trainers. My trainer was Sister Gines and she was amazing. I really believe she was the only one who could have trained me. She was so patient with me through our 2 transfers together as I tried to overcome homesickness, fear of talking to people, shyness, the list goes on. She was very positive and always looking for ways to help and serve others. She was a great example to me.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LM5Pgs7QI/AAAAAAAAB-I/mqlNpTLzxrk/s1600-h/004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 203px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LM5Pgs7QI/AAAAAAAAB-I/mqlNpTLzxrk/s320/004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445640183232654594" /></a><br /><br />This was after transfer meeting, the last time our MTC district would be together. (We saw each other throughout our missions of course, but we were never <span style="font-style:italic;">all</span>together again.) Yes, we're all smiling in the picture, but if you look closely you can tell we are all FREAKED OUT.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LNCP4XOnI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/NrGd4lj-xWU/s1600-h/006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 206px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LNCP4XOnI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/NrGd4lj-xWU/s320/006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445640337950718578" /></a><br /><br />With President and Sister Morrow.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LMvbhH3oI/AAAAAAAAB-A/R3a38ndfKb4/s1600-h/003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LMvbhH3oI/AAAAAAAAB-A/R3a38ndfKb4/s320/003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445640014656953986" /></a>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-76770097914473704112010-03-06T13:02:00.000-08:002010-03-06T13:23:33.365-08:00Fun StuffA lot of missionaries didn't like being "stuck" in the MTC and couldn't wait to get out. I actually enjoyed the two months that I was there. We did a lot of fun things.<br /><br />I was there during Halloween (which was a Sunday, but we "celebrated" on Saturday). Some of the sisters in our dorm building decided to dress up and have a little party with snacks. One of Hermana McKeeth's friends had sent her the glasses that we're wearing, otherwise I don't know what I would have done for a costume. Other sisters were really creative, using nylons and garbage bags. One sister (not in the picture) even used the blankets from the beds to make a sumo wrestler costume.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LEG4la4kI/AAAAAAAAB9g/adxeEdXvuKM/s1600-h/IMG_0014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LEG4la4kI/AAAAAAAAB9g/adxeEdXvuKM/s320/IMG_0014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445630521991946818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LEUbgcacI/AAAAAAAAB9o/t_yTKDBq4ic/s1600-h/IMG_0015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 224px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LEUbgcacI/AAAAAAAAB9o/t_yTKDBq4ic/s320/IMG_0015.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445630754704615874" /></a><br />We had a lot of fun with our district, although the elders could be very very messy. Understandable though, since this was probably the first time being away from home where Mom can't pick up after them. :) We also had fun laughing at the mistakes we would make in Spanish. For example, one day we were practicing teaching each other and Hermana McKeeth and I were teaching some elders in our district and they were teaching us. One of the elders said (when he was practicing making an appointment), "Que dia es mujer" (what day is <span style="font-style:italic;">woman</span>) instead of "Que dia es <span style="font-style:italic;">mejor</span>" (what day is best). The grammar wasn't perfect either, but that one vowel change sure made it have a slightly different meaning.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LEl8ljqwI/AAAAAAAAB9w/6lQASGkeE1g/s1600-h/IMG_0016-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LEl8ljqwI/AAAAAAAAB9w/6lQASGkeE1g/s320/IMG_0016-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445631055642209026" /></a><br />These were our "grandparents". We met them in the cafeteria one day and the sister started calling us her granddaughters. I can't remember where they were going to serve.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LEyP4wS4I/AAAAAAAAB94/Fg9Icnigwsw/s1600-h/IMG_0017-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 168px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5LEyP4wS4I/AAAAAAAAB94/Fg9Icnigwsw/s320/IMG_0017-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445631266981432194" /></a>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-75721246417003942512010-02-26T11:25:00.001-08:002010-02-26T11:41:23.847-08:00P-DayWe had P-day on Mondays. We actually called it P-3 hours because we still had class in the afternoon. In the morning after breakfast we would go to the temple, which was always really nice.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4gjP7xc5pI/AAAAAAAAB7c/IF2WwZogvN8/s1600-h/IMG_0001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4gjP7xc5pI/AAAAAAAAB7c/IF2WwZogvN8/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442638906327361170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4gjahvksLI/AAAAAAAAB7k/Nx7JdabvHbU/s1600-h/IMG_0018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 315px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4gjahvksLI/AAAAAAAAB7k/Nx7JdabvHbU/s320/IMG_0018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442639088318722226" /></a><br /><br />After class that afternoon we had dinner and then free time for the rest of the night to do laundry, write letters, etc. There wasn't really a whole lot to do since we couldn't really leave the MTC, so a lot of people would just hang out in the laundry room or their dorm rooms.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4gjkxZIn1I/AAAAAAAAB7s/wwG3-hxQ-g4/s1600-h/IMG_0017-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4gjkxZIn1I/AAAAAAAAB7s/wwG3-hxQ-g4/s320/IMG_0017-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442639264318267218" /></a><br /><br />One P-day we found The Pillow Room. It was just down the hall from our dorm room and we think it was usually locked, but this time it wasn't. This room was <span style="font-style:italic;">full</span> of pillows; we couldn't even reach the floor when we jumped into the pile. I think we played in there for a good 20 minutes. It was a great stress reliever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4gj1GxOwaI/AAAAAAAAB70/3al8dc-Igsk/s1600-h/IMG_0012-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4gj1GxOwaI/AAAAAAAAB70/3al8dc-Igsk/s320/IMG_0012-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442639544934384034" /></a>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-51706371297554482312010-02-26T07:58:00.000-08:002010-03-07T18:05:46.464-08:00A Typical DayA typical day in the MTC went like this:<br /><br />6:30 am - wake up (we would get up a little earlier so we would actually have time to get ready)<br />7:00 am - breakfast (there is a huge cafeteria where everyone eats)<br />7:45 am - class<br />12:00 pm - lunch<br />12:45 pm - class<br />5:00 pm - dinner<br />5:45 pm - class<br />9:30 pm - back to the dorms, read scriptures, write in journals<br />10:30 pm - lights out<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Lots</span> of class time. The hardest times were after lunch when I always felt a little sleepy. <br /><br />Of course there were other things that we did. Once a week we did service (which mostly consisted of cleaning the dorm bathrooms or vacuuming), we had gym time a couple times a week, firesides on Sunday nights (we didn't have class on Sundays either), and devotionals on Tuesday nights.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5RbYjvaURI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/QGOdwxr9RFE/s1600-h/IMG_0016-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S5RbYjvaURI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/QGOdwxr9RFE/s320/IMG_0016-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446078326866858258" /></a><br />During class time, sometimes our teachers would take us to the RC (referral center), or the TRC (Teaching [something] Center). The RC is where people who get a pass along card call and speak to somebody to get their free video or Book of Mormon or whatever. We also did a lot of outbound calling to people that had called in before but didn't want the missionaries to come by. I admit, I <span style="font-style:italic;">hated</span> the RC. It was just like a call center, except we were supposed to use the Spirit, and I hated call centers. I had worked at Convergys just before I left, and I only lasted a week doing <span style="font-style:italic;">inbound</span> calls for DirecTV. So that wasn't really my favorite place to go.<br /><br />The TRC was a place where we could practice teaching people (volunteers). I liked that better because they were always members, and I was with my companion. None of that one-on-one phone stuff.<br /><br />I also mentioned the TEC in my previous entry. I think it stood for Teaching Education Center. We could go there during our personal study time and meet with an MTC teacher and teach them a lesson and they would provide feedback. Sometimes we even asked them to teach us so we could hear how other people taught. It was a great resource.Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264183154690003864.post-87180856651991721202010-02-26T07:50:00.000-08:002010-02-26T07:58:02.435-08:00Our TeachersWe had two teachers, Hermano Byers and Hermana Tefteller. They were both awesome teachers. We had class three times a day, morning, afternoon, and evening. They each taught during one of those periods and the third was our personal study time. We could study the lessons, the scriptures, Spanish, go to the TEC to practice teaching, etc.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4fvXCHc15I/AAAAAAAAB7M/bHrQR9vPLYU/s1600-h/IMG_0013-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4fvXCHc15I/AAAAAAAAB7M/bHrQR9vPLYU/s320/IMG_0013-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442581853684684690" /></a><br />Hermana Tefteller was from Mexico so we had a chance to hear a real Spanish accent. Hermano Byers was a really good teacher and knew how to bring the Spirit into our classroom. He also did a lot of games to help learn grammar.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4fvd6gMmII/AAAAAAAAB7U/AEUTUC2DZv0/s1600-h/IMG_0013-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_zZMnGacD9M4/S4fvd6gMmII/AAAAAAAAB7U/AEUTUC2DZv0/s320/IMG_0013-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442581971900078210" /></a>Tawnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14953904089960042184noreply@blogger.com0